Let's talk referees...again

Swansea's Jonjo Shelvey leaves the pitch after being shown a red card

Garry Monk and his players are at pains not to criticise refs these days after the recent furore over Victor Moses at Stoke.

But contentious decisions seem to be following them around.

The latest was a non-penalty award when Antolin Alcarez comically saved a Jonjo Shelvey shot in the box a la the man who is meant to be their goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Incredibly Friend did not give it despite the protestations of Shelvey and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

He was, however, right to send Shelvey off after he body checked McCarthy to go into the book for the second time.

Bony hit and miss

Some of Wilfried Bony’s hold-up play was stunning at Goodison and gave his team a well-needed breather when they were coming under fire from incessant home pressure.

But for all his good work, he missed the very best chance of the game in the fifth minute when he fluffed his lines when clean through.

It was a big shock after the Ivorian had enjoyed a spectacular return to form over the past few weeks, firing four goals in three Premier League games. He also managed to get himself booked – arguably unluckily – after a heavy aerial challenge on James McCarthy.

Left exposed

Jefferson Montero got the nod on Merseyside again after his scintillating performance against

Leicester at the Liberty a week before.

But battling to get a foothold in the game away to one of the Premier League’s top sides is a very different challenge, with respect, than a newly-promoted side at home.

And, at times, Montero struggled to come to terms with it.

Tracking back is obviously not the biggest thing on his agenda and while he led some dangerous looking forays forward on the break, they ultimately ended without the accuracy that was needed.

Aidan McGeady enjoyed the freedom of Goodison at times on the right for the hosts and it is little

wonder more didn’t come from his many devilish balls in.

Montero and Neil Taylor need to become a more robust and communicative defensive unit on tough away assignments in the future.

Just rewards for fans

Two trips to Merseyside in a week is a tough ask in anyone’s book.

But 1,400 Swans fans made the long journey north after coachloads had braved late night roadworks after late heartbreak at Anfield just days earlier. You have to say they represented the club magnificently, singing their hearts out notably when they could have been forgiven for being a bit maudlin and shellshocked in the moments after Jonjo Shelvey’s sending off.

They have never won at Goodison in their history. But a hard-fought point is just rewards for their

commitment and you get the impression that will have made the hours on those coaches back to South Wales go by a bit quicker.